Functions of the Aviation Medicine Department

The KCAA Aviation Medicine Department (AMD) was established to provide aeromedical technical support and advisories on behalf of the Director General.

The overall purpose of the Aviation Medicine Department is to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure aeromedical safety. Specifically, the Aviation Medicine Department provides aeromedical technical support and advisories on behalf of the Director General.

The AMD through the Chief Medical Assessor is responsible for Aviation Medicine quality control through regular audits and analysis of Medical Examination Reports (MER), oversight and reviews, supervision and control of the Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs).

The tasks and responsibilities of the KCAA Aviation Medicine Department include:

1. Evaluation of Aviation Medical Examination Reports of various categories performed by the Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs).
2. Control and regulatory oversight of the aviation medical certification process in accordance with Kenya Civil Aviation Regulations and ICAO Annex 1 (Personnel Licensing), Manual of Civil Aviation Medicine (Doc 8984).
3. Aviation Medical Examiners training
4. Conduct and participate in regional seminars on aviation medicine and preparedness planning.
5. Management of medical appeals
6. Issuance of medical certificates
7. Provide technical support to the Director General and the Director Aviation Safety and Security Regulations.
8. Participate in national and international Aviation Medicine forums.
9. Reviewing and proposing amendments to the Aviation Medical Examiners Operational Manual, orders, forms, Civil Aviation technical documents, protocols, and circulars.
10. Oversight of the implementation of the National Aviation Public Health Emergency Preparedness Plan.
11. Oversight of the Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA) in Kenya.

Guidance Materials

To achieve its objectives, the Aviation Medicine Department uses the following guidance materials and tools.

1. ICAO Annex 1 – Personnel Licensing
2. ICAO Manual of Civil Aviation Medicine (ICAO Doc. 8984)
3. The Civil Aviation Act - The Civil Aviation (Personnel Licensing) Regulations, 2018.
4. The KCAA Aviation Medical Examination Procedures Manual.
5. KCAA Personnel Licencing Orders
   1. Procedure for Designation of an Aviation Medical Examiner.
   2. Issue, Renewal or Re-issue of Medical Certificate for Flight Crew Members and Air Traffic Control Licenses.
   3. Procedure for Evaluation of Medical Examination Reports.
   4. Procedure for Auditing Medical Assessment.
   5. Ensuring Confidentiality of Medical Reports
6. KCAA Personnel Licensing Advisory Circulars
   1. KCAA-AC-PEL14 – Procedure for the Designation of and Aviation Medical Examiner
   2. KCAA-AC-PEL15 – Issue, Renewal or Re-issue of a Medical Certificate for Flight Crew and Air Traffic Controller Licenses.
7. KCAA Personnel Licensing Checklist
   1. CL-PEL32 - Supervision and Control of Aviation Medical Examiners.

Aviation Medical Certification

In order to obtain and maintain valid licenses, pilots, air traffic controllers and cabin crew are required to undergo periodical medical examinations and are issued with a medical certificate appropriate for the duties the applicant intends to exercise. The Aviation Medicine Section (AMS) of KCAA through the Chief Medical Assessor conducts an oversight function through supervising the medical certification processes and procedures.

There are three classes of medical certificate holders,

1. Class I:

   1. Commercial Pilot Licence: aeroplanes helicopters and powered-lift;
   2. Airline transport Pilot Licence: aeroplanes helicopters and powered-lift;
   3. flight engineer licence
   4. Multi-crew pilot licence: aeroplanes

   What is the duration period ?

   1. For those that are required to maintain a first-class medical, the valid period for the medical certificate is six months for those who are age 40 or older or 12 months for pilots under 40.
   2. A pilot with a first class medical can utilize second-class medical privileges for 24 months if they are under 40 years and for 12 months if they are above 40 years.

2. Class II:

   1. Commercial Pilot Licence: lighter-than-air
   2. Private Pilot Licence: aeroplanes, helicopters and glider; Student Pilot Licence: for all aircraft and powered-lift; and
   3. Cabin Crew certificate;

   What is the duration period ?

   Second class medical certificates are valid for 2 years for those who are 40 years and below and 1 year for those who are above 40 years.

3. Class III: Air Traffic Controllers Licence.

   The Regulations on medical certification are contained in Part X (Aviation Medical Standards and Certification) of The Civil Aviation (Personnel Licensing) Regulations, 2018.

   What is the duration period ?

   A third-class medical certificate is valid for 12 months if you're age 40 or older or for 24 months if you're under 40 years old.

Designated Aviation Medical Examiners

Aviation Medical Examiners are qualified and licensed medical doctors appointed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to conduct medical examinations of fitness of applicants for the issue or renewal of the licences or ratings on its behalf.

For a medical doctor to be designated as an aviation medical examiner, that doctor shall:

1. Be qualified and licenced in the practice of medicine;
2. Have obtained aviation medicine training at an institution recognized by the Authority;
3. Demonstrate adequate competence in aviation medicine; and
4. Have practical knowledge and experience of the conditions in which the holders of licences and ratings carry out their duties.

There are five categories of AMES as follows:

1. Provisional AMEs
2. Junior AME
3. AME
4. Senior AME
5. Consultant AME

The descriptions of each are contained in the Policy on Aviation Medical Examiner Designation and Qualifications.

Where can I find an approved Aviation Medical Examiner?

Currently, there are nine (9) active Aviation Medical Examiners appointed by the Authority. The list of all the Aviation Medical Examiners, Contacts and Addresses is provided here.

Who is a Medical Assessor?

The Medical Assessor is a doctor appointed by KCAA to evaluate reports submitted to it by the approved medical examiners and making final assessments for issue, renewal or denial of medical certificates. Medical Assessor also conducts aviation medical oversight functions on behalf of the Authority.

Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention & Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA)

The Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA) was established in 2006 as a collaborative arrangement between ICAO and World Health Organization and a number of States particularly in South East Asia following the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003. This led to the development and implementation of Anti-SARS protective measures and guidelines at certain airports as a means of controlling SARS and preventing its spread through air travel.

The rapid spread of Avian Influenza in 2005 raised great concern and prompted the WHO meeting in 2005 which it was agreed that Article 14 of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation be enforced. The Article 14 requires each contracting State to take effective measures to prevent the spread by means of air navigation of communicable diseases. Contracting States are required to keep in close consultation with the agencies concerned with international regulations relating to sanitary measures applicable to aircraft.

The aim of CAPSCA programme is to:

• reduce the risk of spreading communicable diseases by air travellers and crew, and mitigating the effects of such spread, through cooperative arrangements between contracting States.
• Convening of aviation and health stakeholders meetings which spearheads the implementation of the National Aviation Public Health Emergency Preparedness Plan.
• Coordinate, and convene all aviation stakeholders to improve emergency planning and preparedness for health emergencies or potential emergencies that can arise from communicable outbreaks such as Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The KCAA through the CAPSCA Steering Committe also conducts oversight at airports and airlines around the country.

KCAA Approved Aviation Medical Examiners